Apparatus for sinking tubular piles.



l "A. B. GLRK. A APPARATUS POR SINKING` TUBULAR PILES. APBLIG ATION FILED SEPR, 1905. RENEWED NOV. 18, 1909.

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- A. B. CLARK. APPARATUS FOR SINKING TUBULAR PILES. v f Y APPLIUATION FILED sBPAT, 1905. ENBWBDNov.18,1so9.' 13005,?7@ Patented Oct 2 SHEET AAW 1|l| :nwk.

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1,005,770. Application led September 5, 1905, Serial No. 276,915. Renewed November 18, 1909. Serial No. 528,766.

To all whom 'if may concern:-

Be it known that I, AM'AsA B. CLARK, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the i 1ol Vvi5 p iwhere, the power for actuating the said mechanismbeing supplied by means ofsome l city, countyyand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Apparatus for Sinking Tubular Piles, of which the following'l is a full, true, and concise specification. i

My vinvention relates to apparatus for sinking tubular piles, and consists in the provision and -construction of a self-contained motor-driven hammer mechanism vwhich is adapted to be'inserted within the pile and exertits driving force against the interior thereof, though it can be used elsesuitableflexible connection from the exterior of thepile. v

' The invgntion also involves featuresof construction and arrangement of parts which wil1 be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the accom'- panying claims.

Referring to vthe drawings forming apart hereof, Figuresl to 4 illustrate in longitudinal central section a number of machines embodying this invention indifferent forms, the said machines, being c ach shown in operative position within their respective piles;

Fig. 5 is a similar view ofv a machine more especially adapted for use insinkingopen ended piles` The tubular piles with which the present invention is intended to be employed are vmost conveniently formed of sections of pipe 1 coupled together as indicated. @ne of the sections, usually the lowermost, is formed with an interior transverse surface 2 upon which the apparatus may rest and against which-it strikes to sink the pile.`

In Fig. 1 the bearing'surface is provided by a solid point coupled to the pipe section Aby means of a .screw collar. 3, but in Figs. 2 4 the head is shown as being integral with the lowermost section, and in Fig. 5 the pile is open ended but yet provided with a transverse ledge 2.

The form of pile sinking apparatus shown by Fig. .l comprises a cylinder-4 which is formed and adapted to be inserted within the pile and supported therein upon the sui'- face 2, by meansof its legs 5, 5. The cylin! der contains a piston 6 and piston rod 7 which',

Specification of Letters Patent.

p ir orribile.

AMASA IB. CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR SINKING TBULAR PILES.

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in the space between the legs and lstrike di- `rectly against the pile. The piston also carries a tail rod or extension 9 protruding I through the upper head of thecylinder, and `an aperture A is provided' through the tail rod, the piston and the hammer, through which a wash or jet pipe J is adapted-to be inserted and screwed into a tapped bore J in the solidpoint, a'is shown.V The fluid pres- .sure for operating the motor issupplied through the hoselO, and in the figure re-` ferred to is appropriately controlled to pro duce the reciprocat-ion of the hammer by the movement of the piston itself within the cylinder, the arrangement of the'port-s for this purpose being according to the .wellknown principle of so-called valveless en gines. A weight may also be added to the apparatus, if desired, such weight being preferably ofV annularl form so as to surround the protruding end of the tail rod 9 andnot obstruct access to the central jet pipe aperture A. Then the apparatus is to beemployed, it is lowered into the tubular .pile or into the first section thereof by means of the cable 11 fastened to the lug 12 on the cylinder, until the legs 5, 5 rest on the bottom of the pile. The motive Huid is then transmitted through the hose' l0 and the blows struck by the hammer element against the interior ofthe pile serve to sink it into the ground'in obvious manner. When circumstances require it, a stream of water,may be forced through the jet pipe J and the bore J', into the surrounding soil and by loosening the same, facilitate the descent of t-he pile. As the irst or lowermost pile section descends, additional sections may be successively superposed and coupled together until the pile thus formed reaches its depth. At the same time that additional pile sec- `tions are added, the jet pipe may also be built up by 'connecting' additional sections thereto or a flexible hose may be coupled to the pipe and paid out as the pile descends. vAt the completion of the sinking operation, the jet pipe J may be unscieived from the point and the entire apparatus may be then hauled out by the cable 11, whereupon the pile may be lled with concrete and capped as usual. Y

As compared with the usual methods of driving piles by a force applied at their upper ends, it will be observed that the use of the above described apparatus permits the piles to be sunk in inaccessible quarters where there .might be no roomfor an ordinary exterior pile-driver and also that the necessity of providing" special protecting means on top of eah successive section, againstwhich the exterior plle-driver may strike, is entirelyobviated. Numerous other- .important advantages' of, the nevv` apparatus 1n the respect of economy of vmaterial and 'of time will also be obvious. l

The iet-pipe J should be provided with a. Aleft-hand thread-where it screws into the Fig. 1, but in this apparatus the pressure is controlled by a separate valve mechanism 13 carried on the cylinder and the latter is supported on the bottom of the pile by'means of a cylindrical wall 14 which surrounds the reciprocating hammer and contains a vfollower block 15 fitting snugly into the bore thereof. An aperture for the jet pipe is provided Ain this machine at one side ofthe cylinder and the tail rod is therefore omitted from the piston, which latter, as well as the hammer, is a solid member. The advantage of this construction over F ig.`1 lies principally in the fact that the hammer reciprccates in an inclosed air space, and the waterwhich almost certain to leak into piles that are sunk into wet ground cannot therefore interfere with its action. Moreover, the location of the jet pipe aperture at one side permits the full mass of a solid piston and solid hammer to beavailed of in sinking the pile, which fact is impor-v tant when the piles are of small diameter. The hammer strikes' against the follower block 15, which Vis free to move in the end of the cylinder 14 and through it, imparts its energy to the pile. The valve mechanism of this modification is of the ordinary piston-valve type operated by the fluid pressure and does not require detailed explanation.

Fig. 3 represents a development of the invention wherein themotor cylinder 16' is also supported by a closed supporting cylinder and the piston 6, piston rod 7, tail rod 9, and hammer 8 are each hollow, as in Fig.

' 1,.to provide a jet pipe aperture, the valve mechanism being operated directly by the movement of the piston. cylinder 14 is screwed orotherwise secured to the bottom head of the cylinder being closed at its top as in Fig. 2 and open lat ,its

. lower end. The valve 17 of this apparatus surrounds the hollow tail rod 9'and-1s positively actuated, being moved in one-*'dire'c'- The supportingv tion by a' collar y18 onthe upper end of said rod and in the other direction by a Vsliding -sleeve 19; which also surrounds the tail rod and is encountered by the ascending piston j to lift the said valve... The valve and the ports controlled by itare so arranged that i fluid pressure entering by the pipe 10 passes alternately through passages 21 and22 into 4 y the opposite ends of the cylinder s0 as to "produce the requisite reciprocation of .the

hammer,- and the exhaustfrom the cylinder finds its escape through the exhaust'pipe v of the pile is to prevent a back pressure at entrance of'the water in the pile into the valve mechanism when the apparatus is not working, but a check valve maybe provided in the exhaust port for thispurpose, if desired. A. I

Fig, 4 represents another modification of `the invention which differs fromthe forms above described in the feature, of having the piston stationary and the reciprocating cylinder formed as an annular hammer, there- .10 which leads upwardly from the valve -casing toward the top ofthe pile. The purpose of conducting the exhaust tol the top.

by employing4 the .relatively large mass' necessarily present in. the cylinder casting as a means for augmenting the momentum of the-hammer element while the mass of the piston and other parts may be reduced to a minimum. In this form the stationary piston rod 23 and its piston 24 are carried by a -cross-head .25 having legs 2,6 which are adapted to rest` on the transverse floor or .bottom of the pile, the piston-rod and piston being hollow 'and the tail rod or extension 27 being also hollow t0 provide a suitable." passage or aperture through the apparatusl for the reception of a jet pipe J. This apparatus .has also a superposed weight W which may be bolted to the top o'f the crosshead and a cable 1 1 is provided for hoisting it out of the pile. Fluid pressure introduced by Way of the hose or pipe 10 into the cros's-headvvvhich is hollow, from thence passes through the'passages 28 Iand. 29 in the stationary piston rod 23'into the cylv inder Where it is allowed to act alternately 0n opposite sides of the piston as is customary in the ordinary valveless engines. The

bottom `end of the hammer cylinder is provided With a striking lpiece 30 which acts directly against the bottom of the pile.

In the further development of the invention, shown by Fig. 5, the entire motor- Vdriven apparatus is incased in a cylindrical protecting lnclosure and is specially adaptu ed for .sinking open ended piles such as illustrated in that figure., These piles have their lowermost sections `formed with an attached or integral chisel point whichfaffords a transverse annular bearing for the u apparatus to rest upon, as in th'epreceding io paratus is as follows:

' 35 mechanism, as

rises 1n the pile, Amired with theloosened.

soil, and overflows at its top.

The construction'of the motor-driven ap*- The supporting cylinder 32 carries a cross-head or topplate 33 securely astenedto its upper end. The tu. bular. piston rod 34:.is screwed and locked` into this hollow. tall rod 3G. its lower end withf a packed ringV .37 which is surrounded byafollo'wer block 38.1 The latter-is, of course, annular in form, being located ."between the. tubular extension 36 and the end of the' cylinder, and it is also provided with a groove in which rests,- the vertical wall the groove being of packing Irings ing fit.` 'In this', g stationary'piston late and carries the piston 35 and the footv of the cylinder 32 tomakej manner the .weight of the rod and its adjacent parts is supported by the follower block which rests on the pile. The reciprocating hammei` cylinder occupies the annular space between the'piston andthecasing, being provided at its lower end with a striking piece 40 approximately keyed thereto. The top plate or cross-head 33 contains the valve shown in dotted lines, and fluid pressure 'admitted by way of the pipe 10, as usual, is delivered-by the valve alternately into the passages 4l and 42 in the piston rod which lead'respectively to the opposite ends of the cylinder. In striking against the follower block, the latter moves relatively to the cylinder-32 andi the tail Vrod 36,-but during thev ascending `stroke of v the hammer cylinder, the superposed weight W again seats the cylinder in the annular rabbet slot.`

I- do not claim herein broadly the construction of a pile sinking apparatus in which provisions are made for the reception or insertion of a'jet-pipe, as suchsubjectmatter is claimed- ,in another application led of even date herewith.

The term self-contained as used herein is meant to refer to the .structural unity of ille hammer and its operating parts,whereby upon being lowered into' the pile the supplying of motive power is'. all that is required to cause its operation.

l. As a means for sinking tubular piles, a motor formed and adapted to be lowered bodily into a tubular pile andprovided with i reciprocating hammer member adapted to exert a suvession of blows against the '-The latter is fitted atl peripheral rabbet slot or driving motor and co interior oi'said tubular i theipile.

4the interionof said pile.

of the' block Vabove provided with a number a tight yet slidfloor within the same,

pile to sink the lthrough the same for the reception-eef Pipe a `a motor-driven hammer mechanism adapted to be inserted bodily into a tubular pile and a hammer mechanism adapted to be insert/.ed

` comprising a pile, incombination with means for conductingv the motive power to said motor from the' exterior of 2. 'As a means for sinking tubular piles, a gself contained motor driven hammer mechanism,` formed and adapted tov be lowered bodily. into atubular pile and to exert its energy in a longitudinal direction against a. 3. Apparatus for sinking -tubular piles, Icomprising a self-contained motor-driven hammer mechanism formed-with anl external contour adapted to 'fit' within a tubular pile and arranged to rest on a transverse and having its re-4 ciprocating hammer Aelement arranged to exert its. energy against the interior'of said same in the ground. i

4. Apparatus for sinking tub lar piles comprising a motor-driven,hammer-mechanism adapted to be lowered bodily into a tubular 'pile to exert itsdriving force against the interior. thereof, said mechanismA b eing provided with a longitudinal aperture a )et .5. As a means for sinkingtubnlar piles,-

comprising a cylinder and piston, said. pisy ton being provided with .tu aperture pass.- ing through the cylinder adaptedto receive 6. As a' means for sinking tubular piles, 100

bodily within va tubular pile and comprisinga cylinder and piston, and a tail rod on said piston protruding throughthe endof' the cylinder, said mechanism being provided. with a longitudinal jet-pipe aperture passing through said tail rod and piston and through the cylinder. 4

'7. As a means for sinking tubular piles, a self-contained motor-driven hammer mechanism, an inclosure therefor adapted to pro. tect the samefrom surrounding water, and an 'aperture passing 'through said mechanism, isolated from moving parts thereof and suit-ed to receive a jet pipe.-

8.' As a means forsinking tubular piles, al

' self-contained motor-drivenhammer mechanisni, anr inclosure therefor. adapted to prevent the admission of surrounding water to the moving p arts thereof, a longitudinal aperture through the said 'mechanism for receiving a jet pipe. said aperture being isolated rom the said moving parts and formedV of sufficient diameter t0 provide an escape for the mixed soil and water.

9; InV an apparatus for -sinking tubular piles, a motor-driven hammer mechanism', hammer element and adapted to be inserted bodily into a tubular pile, in combination with a casing closed at its top 130 'andforming fa chamber in which l'said hammer element isreciprocated. i.

mermechanism adapted to be inserted into tubular.piles, a casing for supporting said mechanism within the pile and formed to provide an' air chamber in which the ham- -mer element of said mechanism'. may operate.'

11; Apparatus for sinking tubular piles, coiiiprising a motor and a" hammer elementreciprocated thereby, in combination with a f' watertight casing surrounding said hammer element operated thereby,

'.eleinent,and a movable watertight closureor said casing constituting 'a-means of transiz to the exterior thereof.

mitting'the energy of the hammer element 12; Amecha'nism for sinking tubular piles,

adapted to be 4inserted bodily therein, com` prising a reciprocating motor and a hammer a longitudinal aperture vbeing provided through said mechanism, in' eombination'witlian annular weight `vlsuperposed on said mechanism around the aperture therein;

13. A self-contained mechanism Afor sinlr`- ing tubular piles adapted to be inserted bodily therein, comprising a reciprocating yhammer element, a cylinder, piston. and

valve mechanism for operating the same, a central jet-pipe aperture provided. in said ,mechanism and a casing .providing an air a space in which said hammer reciprocate.'

14. A motor-driven hammer mechanism adapted to be insertedbodily within a tubuf -lar pile, comprising a supporting casing, -a

piston .within the same supported thereby and a reciprocating cylinder surrounding.

said piston within the casing, said casing being closed at its upper end whereby an air space is provided in which said cylinder may reciprocate.

15. A motor-driven hammer mechanism Aadapted to be bodily inserted into a tubularpile, comprising a-tubular supporting cas .ing, a -cross-head secured to the upper end of :said casing andy closing the same, and a piston supported by said cross-head withinl the'casing and provided with a central ap erture, in combination with cylinder around said piston, and valve mecha reciprocating anisiii carried by saidA cross-head for admittingffluid pressure thereto.

16. A motor driven hammer mechanism 10. A self-coiita1ned motorf'di'iven hamelement may` a Huid operated motor having valve ports and adapted to be bodily -insertedinto a tubular pile, comprising a'-tubula'r-casin'g, a piston supported within the same and a reciprocatcombination with ataiLrod on' said piston andan annular lfollower-block closing the end of the casing.

' 17. A motor driven hammer mechanism adapted to be inserted bodily into a tubular pile, comprisinga tubular casing, a'piston supported within the casing and'a reciprof cating cylinderssui'rounding said piston, in' `combination Awith a sliding follower-block fitting the end of. said casing and' forming a support upon which the said casing rests.

for tubular piles,-comprising astationary piston'rod and-piston and a reciprocating hammer cylinder surrounding the same, in. combination with valve ports' for vsaid cyl adapted to be bodily'inserted into the pile, a hammer element operated by said motor to impart its energy tothe interior of the pile, in combination with means for preventing the admission of surrounding water into said valveports.

21. In apparatus for sinking piles, a casing forming a protecting inclosure, a motor mechanism sustained within the same, a relatively` movable follower block forming. a

' closure to the end of the casing and .a hammer element reciprocated by the motor mechanisni to strike the follower block.

4In testimony whereof', I have'signed my name to the specification in the presence of two4 subscribing' witnesses.

AMAsA B.' CLARK.

Witnesses:-

A. HARRisoN, D. T. ODAr.

Ving cylinder surrounding' said piston, in

zo:l 18. A motor'- driven hammermechanismsupplying fluid pressure ,to said l 

